SACRAMENTO – For the first time since 1995, a new political party has been certified for the California ballot.

The secretary of state’s office announced Monday that Americans Elect had turned in 1.09 million valid voter signatures to qualify for the June 2012 ballot. It needed 1,030,040 valid signatures.

Americans Elect’s organizers bill it as a nonprofit organization with backers from across the partisan spectrum. They will encourage voters submit their views to shape a platform and help select an Americans Elect ticket for president and vice president through an online convention.